Chemistry is key in any play detailing the perils and pitfalls of human relations and relationships. There must be a synergy of character, style, and purpose to make all our foibles seem real and viable in a dramatic form. Devil of Choice is a sexually charged, tense yet funny, menage-a-trois of strong acting, crisp writing, and well finessed directing that makes for a very satisfying theatrical affair. This world premiere production on stage at the Cherry Lane Theatre, and presented by the Labyrinth Theater Company, is an exceptional piece of work that studies what makes us tick, both good and bad, in the world of human nature and in the midst of lust filled passion. The story takes place in the constrained world of academia and revolves around the academics that are caged within it.

This world revolves around Sal and David Zayas gives a powerful and commanding performance as the misogynistic Don Juan of the hallowed halls. He doesn’t just walk the stage, he prowls. He doesn’t just speak, he orates. He doesn’t just seduce, he takes. One could accuse him of sucking the oxygen out of the room by his shear presence but he always leaves just enough to give you one last gasp. You want to hate him but you just can’t.Elizabeth Canavan as Pepper is the dark horse here. This is a character that could easily be lost as just the typical unfortunate wife. In her estimable hands Pepper is a sad yet oddly happy woman in that quirky way that you know hides so much loneliness and pain just below the surface. She gives, and Sal takes, and he takes, but Pepper doesn’t take that for too long. Her own will finds its way back as she uncovers the hidden truths and lies of her marriage.Florencia Lozano’s performance is sexy. Her Delia has the brains to go with the body. She also has the skill sets to go toe to toe with Sal. As the seduction plays out it’s interesting to watch as she reels Sal in while giving him the illusion of control. Sadly poor Delia is not that all together herself. She suffers from wanting more, and wanting more from Sal is a complicated thing. This fast moving ninety-minute freight train filled with emotional baggage is written by Maggie Diaz Bofil and make no mistake about it she is in control of her characters and her audience from the moment the lights go dark and the first words are spoken. This is a writer whose transitions are smooth as silk as she moves from very comic moments to real, heartfelt, and tragic revelations. She has several tricks up her sleeve to make that happen.You can identify with them and when the time comes you realize that while Ms. Bofil has given the power to Sal, it’s the women that are ultimately the one’s in control. She’s also given us a fourth character in the form of violinist Melisa McGregor. A constant bathed in red light upstage right presence whose music drives the story along through the twenty or so scenes that tell this story. The music of the violin and the rhythm of the words stitch everything together seamlessly.

All of this is under the slick and stylish direction of Shira Lee Shalit. There’s a lot to reign in and it’s all assuredly done. She is yet another woman in this predominantly female driven production that manages to keep all things in balance. There is very delicate work being done here. This is a play that could have easily turned into an over the top, mansplaining, weak woman as victims free for all mess. This director, this writer, these actors, and their production team have made sure that Devil of Choice is a superbly acted play of substance that revels in the devils we all face.

"Holland and Reuben do fine work as two men falling out of love with each other. Puzzo is bold and magnetic -- a bull in a china shop and a ballerina; the audience surrenders to his dance. Danelle Eliav handles her role with poise and honesty, however small it may be. Fault Lines is a treatise on loyalty, betrayal, and morality in seedy bars. Belber has carved a good play, verging on great. The carnage from a dying friendship makes for gripping theater." -- Bianca Garcia, Stage Buddy

THE WINDOW - REVIEWS

Cristina Lippolis is innocent and charming as Eva and captures the disillusion of youth with an inquisitive glimmer in her eye. Marta Mondelli who also penned the script is vibrant, focused and the epitome of style as she carves and sculpts the sultry Nora. Scott Freeman is all a fifties leading man should be; squared jawed, he pulls off a nicely nuanced character as Bill. Under the astute direction of Shira-Lee Shalit motives are clear; movement is precise and economicalas the conflict moves along at a desirable pace. The entire creative team should be applauded for producing a clean, polished production with high artistic integrity.http://www.theatrereviews.com/reviews/offbdwy-TheWindow.htm 1/2014

As for the actors, Lippolis’ Eva moves with the grace of a ‘50s-era starlet, She is more than believable for her character’s reserved, polite girl-next-door demeanor. In fact, she is perfect: from the way she moves across the room to the way she sips her soda, to even her diction – everything about her seemed like she jumped out of a black-and-white film and into our own Technicolor world. As her aunt’s young lover Bill, Freeman too seems a man out of time, exuding a presence that recalls that of a young Marlon Brando a la A Streetcar Named Desire. To say that he holds his own against his female counterparts would be an understatement.http://offoffonline.com/

Some of the 50 festivals that "Open Air" has been accepted to are:(Awards in parentheses)

• Accolade Film Festival• AceFest (winner Best Short)• Appalachian Film Festival (winner BEST SHORT)• Artsfest• Bend Film Festival• Big Apple Film Festival• Breckenridge Festival of Film• Burbank International Film Festival• Cleveland Film Festival• East Lansing Film Festival• Fargo Film Festival• Gasparilla Film Festival• Global Peace Film Festival• The Heart of England International Film Festival• Humbolt Film Festival• International Film Festival Egypt• International Film Festival Ireland• International Film Festival Australia• International Film Festival of West Wales• International Film Festival South Africa• International Film Festival Thailand• International Youth Film Festival - UK

• ION International Film Festival Istanbul• LA Shorts Festival• Las Vegas Film Festival• Mexico International Film Festival (Silver PALM Award)• Montreal World Film Festival• New Jersey International Film Festival (winner BEST SHORT)• New Orleans Film Festival• Palm Beach Film Festival• Phuket International Film Festival• Playhouse West Film Festival• Provincetown Film Festival• Reel to Reel International Film Festival• Reel to Reel Women Film Festival• Rhode Island International Film Festival• Rochester International Film Festival• Sedona Film Festival• Swansea Film Festival• Tupelo Film Festival• Wine Country Film Festival• Wood’s Hole Film Festival• Worldfest Houston (winner of Bronze REMI Award)

November, 2009 - Shira-Lee is featured in MovieMaker Magazine Issue #83 - Special Annual Edition -Complete Guide to Making Movies 2010, in the article - "Casting Without a Casting Director" -Pages 42 -44

May 22, 2009 - Shira-Lee is honored to be selected as one of the New Directors in Shoot's Showcase event at the DGA, NYC, 2009

"From thousands of contestants worldwide, South African born Shira-Lee Shalit was chosen. And, she is looking good." - Juluka Magazine

(click the link or the image to read the article)

"'The judges pegged me as a sexy romantic comedy director', says Shira-Lee, who is perfectly comfortable with that label." - Modern Luxury

(click the link or the image to read the article)

"Now writer/director Shira-Lee Shalit offers her own addition to the air-travel genre with the sublime "Check Out", involving one of the more memorable scenes to take place in a security boarding line." - Peter Gilstrap, Variety Magazine on Check Out

(click the link or the image to read the article)

"Shalit's "Beeline", about a frisky single mother with a precious PlayStation 3- coveting son, charms the panel. Carrie Fisher gives her thumbs up, David Frankel tells her it made him laugh and it's the best he's seen so far, Garry Marshall praises her sense of timing." - Variety Magazine on Beeline on Fox's On The Lot.